Concerns Grow Over New Vehicle Safety Mandates
Republicans are raising concerns about proposed vehicle safety regulations that could pave the way for invasive surveillance technologies. This includes systems that could potentially disable vehicles without the driver’s consent.
The origin of this mandate is the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021, which was signed into law by President Biden. It requires car manufacturers to include advanced technology for preventing impaired driving by the year 2027.
Critics are voicing that the ramifications of this go far beyond just safety concerns.
The Dashboard as a Decision-Maker
“The dashboard of your car becomes judge, jury, and executioner,” expressed Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.), a prominent critic of the bill.
The law, known as “Highly Impaired Driving Techniques,” instructs regulators to mandate systems aimed at preventing fatal drunk driving incidents. As previously highlighted by Blaze News, the technologies under consideration span both passive and active monitoring capabilities, often utilizing artificial intelligence.
These technologies could feature infrared cameras to track eye movements and pupil size, as well as sensors in the vehicle’s cockpit that analyze breath to gauge blood alcohol levels. Another method that’s been discussed involves using touch-based sensors that analyze alcohol content through the skin on fingers and palms.
“I opposed this measure,” stated Anna Paulina Luna (R-Florida), expressing her disappointment that it passed with support from some Republicans alongside Democrats.
Potential Broader Implications
Massie warned about the possibility of this technology evolving beyond simply detecting faults to monitoring a wider range of driving behaviors.
“The vehicle itself would monitor your driving, and if it determines you’re not driving properly, it could stop itself,” he said during a session. “If your car decides it’s no longer safe to drive, how would you challenge that decision? Would you need to press a button on the dashboard, or engage in a conversation with the AI?”
He raised additional concerns regarding how law enforcement might handle false positives, asking if they would respond to situations where cars are mistakenly disabled.
“This technology simply isn’t workable,” he concluded.
Legislation to Block Federal Funding
In response to these concerns, Massie introduced legislation aimed at preventing federal funding for this requirement, especially regarding any features that could function as a “kill switch” in vehicles.
This legislation failed to pass, with 57 Republicans opposing it alongside Democrats. Notably, four Democrats supported the measure: Luis Correa (California), Marcy Kaptur (Ohio), Valerie Hoyle (Oregon), and Marie Grusenkamp Perez (Washington).
